Chapter 104 – Checking in with Everyone


    "Hey baby, can you get up for me?" Mommy says, shaking me awake.


    "Didn''t want to sleep with me?" I ask, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.


    "Baby, look at yourself and me. I don''t think we could cuddle very well," she says, rubbing her belly. "Twins get big for a normal woman like me. I don''t know how you can handle twelve and make it look so easy. Even with me flying, it was difficult traveling here, and you go up and down these stairs every day."


    "Mommy, you ask this every time I get this big. Skills, and now this strange tattoo. Please, can we cuddle? We can make it work. Please, Mommy," I beg.


    "You really like to guilt-trip your Mother, don''t you, dear?" she says with a small shake of her head. "Fine, where do you want me?"


    "Right beside me, Mommy. We''ll have to be on our backs, I think, so move some pillows and nkets around," I say, getting to work. I normally sleep on my side, and being this pregnant doesn''t make me change that habit. So we gather the pillows and do the best two pregnant women can at cuddling up. Our heads are close together, and I can still feel Mommy''s warmth, so it''s a win.


    "Is this good, baby?" she asks once we settle down.


    "Yes, thanks foring out to see me. I''ve missed you."


    "I''ve missed you too. I wouldn''t miss this date for anything, honey. I love you," Mommy says, giving the side of my head a little kiss. "How are you doing with this pregnancy? You didn''t get this bigst time till the very end. Are the kids ok?"


    "Yes, I think this tattoo is doing a lot of work for me. I''m scared to think of what would happen if I didn''t get it," I say back, feeling all the kicks the bastards give me. "A rowdy bunch."


    "They get that from their Mother. Straight from the womb, you wanted your Mommy''s attention, and it''s only grown from there, you stinker. I still can''t believe I''m holding your children."


    "Why wouldn''t I want the attention of the best woman in the world? That is your fault, not mine," I say.


    "Praise only gets you so far, rainbow," Mommy says.


    "You haven''t called me that since I was six," I say, thinking back to when I could still trick Mother into letting me sleep with her. I guess now I just have to ask her to get in with me.


    "I heard Mai has started calling you it, so I''m going to use it again for you," Mommy says.


    "I''m just scared. Makes me think things may be alright when people call me that," I say, shaking a bit.


    "Everything will be ok. I promise. I''ll always track you down. I''m not raising our kids without you. Ok, my little rainbow. Mommy will alwayse to you. Remember that."


    "I just. I''m having a dream of someone taking me away. I''m not sure who or what or anything else, just that I leave. Will Ie back?" I say, turning into Mommy and trying my best to hug her and hide my tears.


    "I''ll find you if you don''t return. I promise, baby. I''ll find a way. Yuki will find a way. I promise. We won''t let anything stand in our way. Trust us," she says, a hand wiping the tears from my face. "I''ve caused you too much pain. I''m sorry, baby."


    "I love you, Mommy," I whisper.


    "I love you too. I promise you''ll help me raise these kids," sheforts.


    "Thank you," I say, forcing myself to sleep. Hoping Mommy brings me better dreams.


    *** Mistress ***


    I started showing this past week. Luckily, that ve didn''t give me some obscene number like she has with others or herself. Triplets are a lot but manageable. We have already started building the nursery: three little cribs with a small divider for the boy and girls. Sometimes, I hate how cute it looks. How I got pregnant from my own ve.


    If that was how it was going to happen, I should''ve just gotten pregnant years ago and maybe let one of my wives have one as well. Stupid fucking bitches ruining everything, and I can''t even truly be mad about having kids.


    They even gave me a damn boy.


    Soon Alzi will be gone, and I''ll have one less reminder for that damn party.


    My rounds are taking a bit longer. I''m not sure if I''m slowing down because I think pregnant women should move slower or if this pregnancy is actually making me slower now. But I''ve checked on all supplies today. The new shipment of food came in with everything we needed. Kelly has what she needs for Alzi''sbor. Alzi has enough oil, soap, and shampoo for the rest of her stay here.


    I''ve got a few girls looking to take over for her. I just need to have them do the practical, and it''s looking like I may be the best test subject for them. Tomorrow would probably be a good day to do one.


    The entrance is empty for now. Alzi is busy with her Mother. The doors will open in about an hour. I have a bit of time to rx before I have to manage the brothel tonight. Vasati asked for the night off.


    "You''ve been hiding something from me." Makes me jump. The voice came from one of the chairs by the lit firece.


    "What do you mean, Duchess?" I ask, moving to take the other chair.


    "Someone tried to assassinate my kids I paid for," Fluvis says, staring into the fire. "Actually, two assassinations happened in your brothel. After the first one, the ve should''ve been moved to my mansion."


    "I don''t know what you''re talking about. Only Mai has had an attempt on her life," I answer back. Did the Duchess double dip on breeding? She looks even bigger than me. How many girls did Alzi get pregnant at once? Her Mother came in looking pregnant, Mai was carrying some, Fluvis and me. Yuki better not be pregnant. If she is, I''m getting her on a contract for life.


    "You don''t even know what goes on in your own brothel? Both Alzi and Mai were targets of the assassins guild. I''ve already found who was behind the attempt for Alzi. No need to deny it," she says, still ignoring me as I take a seat next to her.


    "I really don''t know of this attack. Mai made a mess, but I''ve never heard about Alzi being attacked. I wouldn''t have hidden it from you. I have no interest in letting your kids die. Mai turned into a vampire and has the Countess behind her. I thought that scared them all off from attacking again. I''ll have to ask around for who kept it from me," I say trying to see if she believes me. Her face remains still, the mes flicker around in the one eye I can see.


    "Sure, sure. Would you dare lie to a Duchess? Lucky for you, I don''t think you''re that stupid. You may want to figure out who has tight lips. I already know Alzi has twelve kids for me. Best make sure they don''t try and hide one from me," she says, finally turning to face me. "I assume they are all healthy?"


    "Yes, I have a healer doing weekly checks on them. She assures me they can be birthed any day now and be healthy. I''ll start having daily checks so she doesn''t hide any more incidents from me," I say.


    "Good, I want to know the second she goes intobor. I want to see my kidse into the world," she says, standing up. "I see you also took a turn with Alzi. Her numbers are quite surprising."


    "Yes, yes. Alzi doesn''t go small," I say, standing up and following the Duchess to my door.


    "That she doesn''t. My wives are still scrambling to get everything set up for ours. Just the number of cribs we will need is ridiculous," the Duchess says. Her hand gliding over her growing bell. "I''ll see you when the kidse. Keep Alzi safe. I know you have more to worry about with Alzi. I don''t think the Princess will be happy waiting any longer."


    "Like I said, I have no reason to risk Alzi and your kids. I truly thought she was safe," I say, bowing to the powerful elemental as she leaves.


    I still have time to rx, and now I need it. How did Yuki hide that from me?


    *** Princess Elora ***


    The way back home was a lot safer, or at least less eventful than our trip out. We did go through bigger cities that are used to fighting back the forest. Culling the dangerous beast and consistent scouting lower the chance of an unknown wolf pack being in the area.


    We were able to find a priestess to lift the curse on Inano''s arm, which is a great relief. Alzi won''t have a great method to heal it, just sting it enough mana to force out the curse.


    I''ll never understand why Ashryn followed that old rule for ves with affinities. It just lowered the number of services Alzi could provide. Add true healing to her massages and she could double the cost of them. Was it really that important to get her better breeding sses?


    "Princess, we are at your manor," the driver calls back. The maids flurry about to get me dressed again. My favorite maid, Sedriresa, who had been with me since I was a baby, had decided to show a bit too much cleavage, and well, one thing led to another, and we were all naked. It had winded down a while ago, but they got me trapped again, resting on their thighs.


    A weakness it seems I need to work on for these trips.


    "Dear, I know you''re naked in there; juste out. It''s dark, and only me and the maids are around," Isda calls out.


    "I''m not naked. Just, just..."


    "I''ming in then," she says as the door opens. "Yes, five naked women. You couldn''t bring a wife back here, too? You have a lot to keep happy, and if you don''t do it, Alzi will soon. I don''t think having an entire house pregnant is good for reaching the throne, missy."


    "I''m older than you, dear," I dare to say to the small angel.


    "Out!" is all I get. The maids give up on my clothing and follow the pregnant woman. I should''ve just used magic. Not willing to walk out naked like my maids. I put on a simple robe that will fail to convince anyone I was dressed inside if the maids didn''t already show it.


    Outside, they are just standing naked in perfect form behind the angel, like they are meant to be nude in the yard.


    "Good, now I''ve prepared the bath for anyone who wishes to use it. Meals are also ready if you need them. Rooms are ready, and the maids, as you can see, are ready for anything," Isda calls out to everyone, her hands gesturing to my naked maids, who just smile.


    Brothels, being the gathering grounds for nobles, really are doing a number on the younger generation. Except all of those maids are my age.


    How long have they been lusting after me?